When commissioner Bud Selig and the rest of MLB’s leadership implemented the new playoff system earlier this year, one of the goals was create more excitement and races at the end of the season. The Braves came into the day with a comfortable five-game lead for the first Wild Card spot, but the second spot is very much up for grabs.
The Cardinals currently lead the race for the second Wild Card spot, but the Dodgers and Pirates sit just two games back. The surging Brewers are just three games back, the Phillies and Diamondbacks four back. By the end of the night, the race could be even closer. With roughly 17 games left to play and six teams legitimately in the running for that second Wild Card spot, expect there to be a mad dash to the finish line for the right to play Atlanta in a one-game playoff.
The Phillies are only 3 back right now even though the are getting embarrassed by the Astros right now
Now make it 3.5
Looks like it’s gonna be 4 again.
Fortunately, you spoke to soon
I think the cards hold on, they have too much talent to blow the lead and tend to finish strong. as a Braves fan, I’m hoping the Phillies make it, as we have matched up well with them this year. (heck I’m just hoping we don’t blow it again ,honestly)
padres 6.5 back!!!!! lol
Padres 5.5 back!!!!!
The Cardinal’s schedule’s pretty easy down the stretch and the Phillies are in the process of giving away two games to the worst team in baseball. Ultimately, I think it comes down to those two teams.
I think the Cardinals are going to hang on to it. The Pirates are fading, the Dodgers are going to lose Kershaw (and their rotation behind him was pretty bad anyway), and the Brewers don’t have the starting pitching to make this kind of run IMO.
Brewers don’t have starting pitching to make this run? We’re already in the process of making this run with the pitching we have.
Besides, the key behind our success has been our offense. The offense that is averaging around 6 runs a game, 280+ batting average, leading basically all the major offensive categories (or second to the Nationals) since we started our hot streak to get into the playoff race.
You think those numbers are going to be sustainable as they go into Washington and Cincinnati over the next two weeks?
You can’t bank on your offense blowing everyone out every day… no matter how good it is. The teams the Brewers face down the stretch have the offenses that they can slug with them.
Not saying saying it can’t happen but I find it unlikely.
Dodgers, IMO. They are only 2 down, and I think they are a much better team than the cards. The Phillies also have a shot, although they would probably be so much closer if they had kept Victorino and Pence. Although those trades made sense at the deadline.
It seems wierd reading a post from you Mike that isn’t pessimistic lately.
lol
I don’t see how in any way shape or form the Dodgers have a better team than the Cardinals. Sexier names? Yes.
Agreed. This coming from a Cub fan.
Cub’s fans at least don’t have to worry how their team does in september. Maybe if they bomb now they can catch the Astros for 1st draft pick. Although they are 10.5 games back. lol
They are only 1 game down, and now they have hanley starting over dee gordon, Beckett’s era in LA is 3.38, A-Gon starting over Loney.
You’re stating reasons that the Dodgers are a better team than they were before the trades.
I’d think if anything, they’re on pretty even playing fields.
My other post to this got flagged… if it pops up ill delete it later.
I don’t see how in anyway, shape, or form, the Dodgers are a better team than the Cardinals. They have more household names but that’s it… and their starting pitching is the worst among anybody listed above.
… Ignore this ^^^^… was me, meant to delete it.
Taking a quick look at the schedule for after this weekend:
-Cards are about to open a 9 game trip against the Astros and Cubs but they follow it up with 6 games against the Reds and Nats however these final 6 are in St. Louis.
-Dodgers also have 6 games against the Reds and Nats but as road games. To add insult to injury they may have lost Kershaw for the season. They’re schedule looks to be tougher than the Cards
-Pirates seem to have a schedule similar to the toughness of the Dodgers. They also close against the Reds and Braves.
-Brewers have the easiest end of their schedule… but they have to get through the Pirates, Reds, and Nats on the road first.
-Phillies biggest hurdle is the Nats, they play them 6 more times.
-Diamonbacks seem to have the easiest schedule of anyone on this list. They visit SF next week but that’s their only major challenge.
Right now, I like the Cards chances. However, my guess is unless someone goes on a winning or losing streak next week, this race doesn’t get decided until the final weekend.
I accidentally typed the same thing lol. Didn’t read the comments beforehand. You far out did me though you covered all the teams 😀
Voted for the Cards because that’s a tough team when the chips are down.
On a sentimental note it would be nice if the Phils got in for Charley Manuel’s sake.
This way he can answer all his critics that call him ‘Elmer BeFuddled’ with a hearty
Heh…Heh…Heh…Heh…!!!
Dodgers are actually just a game back
I’m still holding out hope for the Pirates.
Same here. I want as many awesome story lines to root for in the playoffs. Like an A’s/O’s vs Pirates/Nats World Series.
An O’s/Nats series could be strangely exciting. Luckiest team in baseball meets the most improved team in baseball.
I think that the Cards will hold on and take that second wild card spot.
The Phils are dead in the water, and I am a Phillies fan.
I do like this 2nd wild card, but the fact that its only 1 game its really unfair, any team can win a single game…My thought is that they can fix this putting a 2-3 series(at least) then 3-5 and finally 4-7
I am not sure I like this second wild card, at least the way it’s set up this year. The second wild card gets the home game, which seems unfair to me. The team with the best record should always have the home field advantage.
Yeah, but it shouldnt be just one game, like I said win 2 out of 3 games seems better…
These teams didn’t win their division, Soooo… The fact that they get a playoff spot at all, is beneficial for them, this actually seems reasonably fair due to the fact that before the single WildCard team would get to play in the playoffs on an equal footing as the teams that won their division, getting 5 games to advance, now they have to gamble on a 1 game Playoff to make the “true” playoffs.
So i would basically say this is more fair, because it respects the work of Division Winners.
Dodgers are now tied thanks to Cruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuz
That was a very entertaining game last night. Cruz has sort of come out of no where to contribute key hits-I’m loving it! I am a sucker for guys that knock around a long time, slip through several organizations, then out of the blue seem to have finally figured it all out! Hooray for the Luis Cruz!
I’m going Cardinals only because I’m playing the strength of schedule card. They should at least be able to take 7 games the next 9 against the Astros and Cubs. Splitting with the Nationals and Reds should net them a spot.
Most difficult road goes to the Dodgers. With Kershaw maybe out they head to Washington, Cincinnati, and a red hot Padres club. After that they finish with SF coming into town.
But whatever team wins they’ll run into a pretty balanced Braves team I don’t think they’ll get past in my opinion.
Won free tickets to see the Phillies on the 26th vs the Nats…hope to be there for history maybe.
Maybe the 2nd wildcard wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
The padres are the hottest team in the NL, they even swept the Cards some days ago, but at 6 games back, they seem to be too far.
Dodgers are down their #1 – #3 starters from Opening Day in Kershaw, Billingsley and Lilly. Harang, Capuano, Beckett and Blanton isn’t going to get the Dodgers very far even if they do make the postseason.
That being said, the offense is the real issue the Dodgers have been losing. I have no idea how this bunch of star players can be so awful when put into a lineup together. Kemp in particular is struggling mightily, but Victorino and Gonzalez have been mediocre as well.
The Dodgers have the rougher schedule, and after a series of missed opportunities tonight, they remain a game back of the Cardinals… I say the Cardinals take the 2nd spot.